Ecology.  A suite of ecological surveys have been undertaken, including an Extended Phase 1 habitat survey, a desk top data search and species-specific survey for badger, otter, water vole, reptiles, breeding birds and bats.

Pellingford Brook runs through the centre of the site, and an area of Ancient Woodland lies to the east.  The woodland has been replanted with conifers throughout, so its ecological value had been reduced. Natural England and the Forestry Commission recommends that an appropriate buffer zone of semi-natural habitat is implemented between the development and the ancient woodland.  This has been reflected in the proposals.

No evidence of badger, water vole, otter or reptiles was encountered through the surveys.

The proposals present an opportunity to deliver benefits for biodiversity, including the strengthening of habitats within and around the site, which would improve habitat provision and connectivity of habitats in the wider landscape. Faunal enhancements will also be provided for the benefit of a range of species including birds, bats, reptiles and invertebrates.

Existing hedgerows and trees will be retained as far as possible to ensure a landscape led scheme and a 10% net gain in biodiversity.

Highways.  The access has been positioned to be 20m south of the approved access to the 20-unit development on the opposing side of Lunce’s Hill while also avoiding the existing trees on the site frontage.  The access therefore is in the same location as the existing field access.

The junction has been designed as a simple priority junction with a taper on the northern side and an initial width of 6m to accommodate larger vehicle movements then leading to a 5.5m wide access road within the site which is considered suitable for a development of this scale allowing two vehicles to pass.

In order to provide pedestrian connection to the site a 1.8m footway has been demonstrated on the northern side of the proposed access. This will continue up the eastern side of Lunce’s Hill  to a proposed uncontrolled pedestrian crossing point 60m before terminating.

At the termination point, an uncontrolled pedestrian crossing equipped with dropped kerbs and tactile paving has been provided to provide a safe crossing point for pedestrians to the existing footway on the western side of Lunce’s Hill/Fox Hill.

To support the Transport Assessment (TA) which will be submitted as part of the planning application, traffic surveys have been undertaken at several local junctions to establish existing levels of traffic.

The results of these surveys will be used to inform junction capacity assessments, which demonstrate how a junction performs at the moment and how it is likely to in the future.

In addition to this, the TA will review local highway safety and sustainable transport facilities in the area.

The application will also be supported by a Residential Travel Plan (RTP), which will set out measures to reduce single occupancy car journeys associated with the site.

Utilities.  The surrounding utility infrastructure (foul water, electricity, gas etc) will be assessed as part of a Utilities Assessment, and where necessary any capacity constraints will be identified and suitable mitigation/diversions proposed.

Lighting.  A Lighting Impact Assessment will be carried out and included with the outline planning application when submitted.

This will set out lighting strategy for the site, which will seek to provide safe public areas whilst also being sympathetic to the local surroundings by avoiding over lighting, sky glow and glare.  It will also provide ‘dark corridors’ within the site to support nature conservation routes.

Air Quality.  LDC has declared two Air Quality Management Area (AQMA). The site is not located within an AQMA, however the closest AQMA is located in Lewes Town Centre which could be impacted and will be assessed as part of the Air Quality Assessment.

Local air quality monitoring and estimated background concentrations available from the Defra LAQM Tools website suggest that existing ‘baseline’ air quality is likely to be good at the proposed site.

Noise.  A baseline noise survey has been undertaken in line with current planning policy and technical guidance. Site observations, and the results of the baseline survey, have identified that the dominant source of noise affecting the proposed development site is road traffic on Lunce’s Hill.

Mitigation measures will be utilised to control noise impacts on the new homes from surrounding land uses and include double glazing, appropriate façade construction, appropriate stand-off distances and boundary mitigation.

New Homes.  Up to 130 new sustainable 1 to 4 bed homes.

Affordable Housing.  30% affordable housing on the Mid Sussex District Council land and 40% affordable housing on the Lewes District Council land (in accordance with adopted Policy) with a combination of social rented, affordable rent and shared ownership housing.

This will assist those looking for their first home, and lower income individuals and families get on the housing ladder in Haywards Heath.

This is particularly pertinent in Haywards Heath, where the average house price over the last year was ££454,861 (Rightmove) compared to the UK average of £290,000 (UK House Price Index (HPI).

Cleavewater Barn.  Within the site there is an existing building which is understood to have been constructed in the 19th century as an outbuilding or barn to the Grade II listed farmhouse known as Cleavewater.

Our proposals include plans to bring this back into use, along with associated outdoor space and landscaping to help secure the long-term future of the barn through a commercial use.

Possible uses could include; a creche/nursery, farm-shop with café, or a medical/leisure type use such as physiotherapy or a yoga/training studio.  We would welcome feedback and suggestions on the type of facility that is most needed by the local community.

Extensive Public Open Space.  The onsite public open space, will include children’s natural play areas, wildflower meadow planting and a network of recreational walking routes.

Archaeology & Heritage.  No statutory designated heritage assets are located within the site.

The site is not within the South Downs National Park, or its setting, nor is it covered by any locally protected landscape or environmental policy areas.

There is a low potential for archaeological remains of any period being present on the site, and very little has been found in the immediate vicinity.

Archaeological remains are not anticipated to present a constraint on development and, if present, can be mitigated as part of the planning process in line with the requirements of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF).

The key designated assets within the vicinity of the are the grade II listed Cleavewater and grade II listed The Old Cottage.

The proposals consider the impact on the settings, with proposed development positioned away with reduced heights and a landscaped buffer included to protect the setting.

Flood Risk / Drainage.  The Site falls within flood zone 1 (low risk), according to latest Environment Agency data, and is therefore suitable for residential development.

The planning application will be accompanied by a full National Planning Policy compliant Flood Risk Assessment, which assesses the site with respect to all types of flood risk.

There is a river just to the east and existing watercourse (Pellingford Brook) runs through the site.

There is evidence of some surface water flooding.  OS Mapping indicates that the nearest surface water feature is the Pellingford Brook located on site, flowing from the northwest to the east of the site. The Pellingford Brook appears to begin approximately 20m northwest of the site, and continues through the site to the east, eventually flowing into the River Ouse located further east

A drainage strategy will be prepared based on restricting surface water runoff to greenfield rates, attenuating on site by way of a number of attenuation ponds, and discharging to the watercourse that runs through the site.

Both East Sussex and West Sussex County Council have been consulted on the emerging proposals given the cross boundary nature of the site.

A Sequential Test on surface water flooding will also be prepared and submitted with the application to demonstrate compliance with National Planning Practice Guidance.

Sustainability and Climate Change.  Homes both new and existing account for 20% of greenhouse gas emissions in the UK.

The proposed homes will be designed in accordance with the Government’s Interim Future Homes Standard, which requires a 31% improvement over the current Part L 2013 standard.

A range of measures will be implemented to reduce energy use and carbon emissions, in line with the energy hierarchy, and complying with national and local policy.

The detailed design will consider:

• Design to promote passive solar gains, maximise natural daylight, sunlight and ventilation
• High levels of insulation and air tightness
• Use of high efficiency heating systems appropriate to the building use to reduce energy consumption
• Specification of high energy efficient equipment that will use less energy and water
• Electric vehicle charging for all homes contributing to sustainable transport
• Delivering a net gain in biodiversity which will help site habitats and species adapt to climate change
• A surface water drainage strategy which utilises Sustainable Drainage Systems and allowances for climate change to protect against flood risk